In the 11-year period of 2005 through 2015, canines killed 360 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 64% (232) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. | More »

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

From left: breeding bitches with docked tails, blood spattered porch and neighbor.Dog Owners ConvictedUPDATE 09/28/11: A Carter County jury took just three hours to convict a couple of charges in connection to the dog mauling death of Virgil Cantrell. Rickey Lynn Grant and his wife, Lisa Kay Bloxham-Grant, were convicted with ownership of a dangerous dog causing the death of a person. The jury's sentencing recommendation was that each pay a $5,000 fine. This is a far lower punishment than the statute allows. Formal sentencing will be conducted next month.

05/08/11:Felony Charges BroughtThe Daily Ardmoreite reports that felony charges have been filed against the owners of the "white in color pit bull" that brutally mauled an Ardmore man to death in April. Assistant District Attorney Tim Burson filed "ownership of a dangerous dog causing death of a person" Friday against Ricky Lynn Grant, 40, and Lisa Kay Bloxham-Grant, 40. Court documents show that the dog inflicted "massive sharp force injuries" in the attack, including fracturing Cantrell's right jaw.1

If convicted, the couple faces possible prison sentences of five years and fines up to $25,000.

04/25/11: New Images of Scene ReleasedNews9.com reports an important clarification: Authorities removed the remaining dogs from Grant's property. This is good news for the community and for the seized pit bulls. The group also reports that the victim, Virgil Cantrell, was on good terms with the offending pit bull, named Ike. After many previous porch sittings with the dog, the animal "suddenly attacked" and killed him Friday. The video also shows imagery of the dog after being shot to death by police.

Imagine if the video had shown images of Virgil with his face torn off?

04/25/11: Dogs Disappear from PropertyKXII brings us footage of Rick Grant's property on Petty Road. The imagery shows at least two breeding bitches with docked tails -- the latter being uncommon -- as well as what appears to be the blood spattered porch where one pit bull was chained while it killed Virgil Cantrell. Neighbor Lindsey Crook talks about two prior yard accidents involving the offending pit bull, one concerning a bite inflicted upon her son that required stitches about a month ago.

Once again disproving the myth that biting pit bulls are "culled" by dogfighters2 or pit bull owners in general.

According to neighbors, "someone removed" the breeding bitches from Grant's property after the fatal incident. No doubt to recreate more biters and pit bulls most likely used for the illegal purposes of dogfighting. The offending pit bull, probably a male, was shot and killed on the scene by Carter County Sheriff's Deputies. Finally, and as the article points out, biting incidents that occur on private property (50-70% of all dog bites), don't always count for much.

04/24/11: Dog a Previous Two-Time BiterArdmore, OK - In a developing story, a 50-year old man was killed by a pit bull Friday night that was chained to the porch of a rural Ardmore home. Carter County Undersheriff Milton Anthony said Virgil A. Cantrell died en route to a Dallas hospital following the attack at the Petty Road residence of Rick Grant, the owner of the dog. Anthony said the victim sustained severe facial, head and throat injuries. When deputies arrived, the animal was still chained to the porch.

It appears no one was home during the deadly mauling, though Grant and his wife were scarce Friday night. The two reappeared Saturday and voluntarily submitted to interviews. Records show that authorities have answered two previous calls at the Grant residence for dog bites. On Monday, charges of harboring a vicious animal will be sought. After the investigation is completed, and the district attorney reviews the information, upgraded charges may be sought.

Just a few words of the truth. First of all Tony and the dog owners were friends and he would sit on their porch with them gone waiting on them to return many times. So to clear this up he did not walk up on the porch and get attacked because this dog was doing his job and protecting the house, no Tony and this dog knew one another. The other part about no one coming to his rescue is not true at all. No one heard any cries or screams for help in the initial attack. Here is the truth, the little boy that was bit a month ago was the first person to see the dog on top of Tony, he ran as fast as he could to an adult. There were people trying to help but the dog would not let anyone close to Tony. This was the most vicious thing I have ever witnessed in my life. Yes I was one of the people that tried to help. People on the scene were interviewed and rest assured we all told the truth about the situation, for example one neighbor that saw Tony on the porch by the dog has not been quoted or the paper wouldn't have said they aren't sure if Tony walked up on the porch and the dog was simply protecting his owners home, THAT IS THE FURTHEST THING FROM THE TRUTH !!! Please say an extra prayer for the little boy that survived the dog attack only to walk up on the same dog the day after he got the 20 stitches he was acquired from his attack. Killing a grown man who was also his friend that shot hoops with him now and then. Bless his young heart.If proper action would have been taken when the boy was bit this would have never had to happen. Senseless is an understatement. By the way there were no Beware Of Dog signs or any other sign in the yard whatsoever. Someone needs to be held accountable that's the bottom line. It's sad to think it takes someone dying for action to be taken. The dog owners were escorted by Carter County law and protected from harm today when they came out and recovered the other four dogs they had tied to trees.I had a friend once that had a small breed dog that bit a neighbor and could not produce rabies vaccination papers for the dog, the dog was taken and put to sleep, decapitated and the head was examined for rabies, for which the dog did not have. Oh yeah I remember now that was in the city of Ardmore. Golden Oaks is outside city limits, so when the boy was bit the animal control was not sent out here, but someone dies and the animal control was sent out to retrieve the dog after he was shot. In conclusion we are tax paying citizens out here one quarter of a mile outside the city limits of Ardmore and shouldn't we be able to count on our County laws protecting the safety of our families and our children out here too ?

bitbypit | 9/28/2011 11:58 PM | FlagIt is bizarre and saddening indeed. The fact that they had a statute on the books is commendable. What the jury recommended could only be described as "painful." The judge has final say, let's hope he better understands the forever loss of human life.